Things To Do in Louisiana This Weekend

Whether you are a culture seeker, food aficionado, outdoor adventurer or history lover, Louisiana is filled with opportunities for you to #FeedYourSoul. 
 

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The official Explore Louisiana blogging team.
Dancers dressed in extravagant, pastel dressed perform during the French Quarter Easter Parade.
French Quarter Easter Parade

The French Quarter Easter Parade promises pastel performances that dazzle. Catch sweet candy throws and sport your biggest brim for this joyful event. 

Children — covered in Holi Festival powder — watch as a performer hula hoops.
Lafayette Holi Festival

Celebrate Holi — a Hindu practice that honors the value of goodness — with a brilliant color fight in downtown Lafayette.

Louisiana Lao New Year Festival
Louisiana Lao New Year Festival

Sabaidi Pi Mai! Experience the Laotian New Year in Lanexang Village, a traditionally Laotian neighborhood in Broussard. 

Here's a roundup of fun Louisiana events and activities.

With nine state museums and 21 state parks and preserves, there is no shortage of things to do every day of the year in Louisiana.

Head to countless festivals. Listen to live music that will get in your bones and never leave. Enjoy world-class fishing, boating and paddling. Get up close with nature on biking and hiking trails. You'll find excellent camping and picnic areas, including well-equipped cabins and RV parks, at many of our Louisiana state parks. 

Discover the history of Mardi Gras, see Louis Armstrong's cornet, relive historical moments in Louisiana sports history and so much more when you visit one of Louisiana's museums. There are endless opportunities to immerse yourself in the culture that makes Louisiana such a special place. 

Find your Louisiana with these events happening around the state this weekend. Check out a full list of this weekend's events and plan your visit today! 

Women’s History Month Gallery Showcase

March 28–30
Bossier

Stop by the Bossier Arts Council for your last chance to see the Women’s History Month Gallery Showcase. Featuring stunning works from local photographers, painters and fiber artists, the exhibition honors and empowers women in the arts. Be sure to check out the custom-painted mannequins, each telling a unique story from the perspective of women.

Check out more of the local creative scene with a visit to The Agora Borealis, a woman-owned artisan marketplace, featuring everything from pottery, stationery and bath products to textiles, clothing and jewelry. You’ll find useful souvenirs or great pieces to decorate your walls at home. When your stomach starts to grumble, enjoy music and a meal at The Noble Savage or chow down on pizzas, brews and cocktails at Flying Heart Brewing & Pub.

Visit Shreveport-Bossier.

Louisiana Lao New Year Festival

March 29-31
Broussard

Sabaidi Pi Mai! Celebrate the Laotian New Year, which honors Buddhist practices like forgiveness and joy, in Lanexang Village — a traditionally Laotian neighborhood in Broussard. Savor decadent Southeast Asian cuisine, shop for handcrafted goods and learn Lao folk dances.

See more local culture during your trip. In South Louisiana, it’s not unusual to drive past vibrant front porches decked with folk art. Swing by Louisiana Marketshops at the 115, which showcase more than 450 local artists and their works, like hand-painted gumbo bowls and wood carvings.

Learn more about St. Martin Parish.

Ouachita Live

March 29
West Monroe

Love live music? Kickoff your weekend at West Monroe’s free concert series, Ouachita Live. Before you know it, you’ll be on your feet swaying to swing and smooth jazz. Visit the on-site food trucks to savor delicious bites and sips.

Before the show, check out some of the city’s downtown shops, like The Rustique Gator, The Tea & Spice Exchange of West Monroe, Bayou Chocolate and more. For a thrilling indoor adventure, visit Southern Escape, a live escape room where you and your group can test your teamwork and puzzle-solving skills.

Discover Monroe-West Monroe.

Bayou Blue Recreation’s Annual Spring Fling

March 30
Houma

Find Easter family fun at Bayou Blue Recreation’s Annual Spring Fling. Kids will love the free indoor crafts and bounce houses, and families with appreciate snapshots with the Easter Bunny. If you’re feeling hungry, chow down on delicious burgers, hot dogs and drinks. In the afternoon, kiddos can scramble for brightly colored eggs in age-divided hunts.

See Houma’s wild side with Cajun Man’s Swamp Tours & Adventures. You’ll learn all about Louisiana’s bayous. Kids will have the time of their lives watching gator feedings, seeing wildlife and even driving the riverboat! For dinner, choose anything from Cajun gumbo and po’boys to all-day breakfast and hamburgers at The Pit Stop.

Explore Houma.

Easter Market on the Alley

March 30
West Monroe

Relish a day at Easter Market on the Alley with the whole family. Enjoy browsing handmade artisan items, sampling tasty treats and exploring open-air Alley Park. Kids will love the opportunity for a wagon ride with the Easter Bunny.

Bring your bikes for an afternoon ride in Kiroli Park after your market festivities. The park offers challenging loops and leisurely paths, as well as a fishing pond, garden and playground. Afterward, savor dinner with a river view at Trapp’s, where you’ll find Cajun classics and delicious twists on potatoes, like the seafood nacho spud. Or, enjoy burgers, barbecue and brisket at Jac’s Craft Smokehouse.

Discover Monroe-West Monroe.

Lafayette Holi Festival

March 30
Lafayette

Come celebrate spring at one of the most colorful festivals around at the Lafayette Holi Festival. Rooted in Hindu mythology, Holi celebrates good’s triumph over evil with a traditional color fight. You’ll feel like a kid as you throw vibrant-hued powders with friends, family and other excited revelers. After exchanging colors, nom on delicious Indian cuisine, jam to a live DJ and watch incredible performances, like Bollywood dances and drumming acts.

Explore Lafayette’s artistic side with a trip to Sans Souci Fine Crafts Gallery, where you’ll find works as colorful as the powders you were tossing earlier. For a glimpse at Louisiana’s unique wildlife, swing by Cypress Lake at the University of Louisiana. Walk the boardwalk near the student union to see cranes, turtles and gators enjoying the sunshine.

Plan your visit to Lafayette.

French Quarter Easter Parade

March 31
New Orleans

Make this Easter one you’ll never forget with the French Quarter Easter Parade. Whether you bring the kids or go with friends, you’ll have a blast watching the colorful floats go by and listening to the brassy tunes of marching bands. Plus, be ready to catch beads and other surprise throws.

Replenish your energy post-parade with sweet beignets and rich coffee at Café du Monde. Stick around to indulge in smooth jazz rhythms or take a stroll around Jackson Square. Nearby is the famous French Market, where you can peruse the open-air vendor stalls for unique crafts and souvenirs or tasty Louisiana spices and specialties.

Visit New Orleans.

21 Beautiful State Parks & Preserves

Statewide 

Louisiana is home to 21 beautiful state parks filled to the brim with fun family experiences. As temperatures rise and flowers bloom, consider the state’s exciting hikingbiking and paddle trails. Or book a getaway at one of our lovely cabins!

Make Plans for Louisiana This Weekend

Whether it's one of our many exciting festivals or an adventure in the great outdoors, there is always something unique to experience in Louisiana. Be sure to check our calendar of events for the most up-to-date list of festivities.